convict

American  

[kuhn-vikt, kon-vikt] / kənˈvɪkt, ˈkɒn vɪkt /

verb (used with object)

• convicts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• convicted,
  past participle,  past
• convicting
  present participle

1. to prove or declare guilty of an offense, especially after a legal trial.

   to convict a prisoner of a felony.

2. to impress with a sense of guilt.

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noun

• convicts
  plural

1. a person proved or declared guilty of an offense.

2. a person serving a prison sentence.

adjective

1. Archaic. convicted.

convict British  

verb

1. to pronounce (someone) guilty of an offence

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noun

1. a person found guilty of an offence against the law, esp one who is sentenced to imprisonment

2. a person serving a prison sentence

adjective

1. obsolete convicted

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preconvict
  verb (used with object)
• reconvict
  verb (used with object)
• convictable
  adjective
• convictible
  adjective
• convictive
  adjective
• unconvicting
  adjective
• unconvictive
  adjective
• convictively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• convicts
  plural

Participles

• convicting
  present
• convicted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• convict
  simple
• convicts
  simple
• have convicted
  perfect
• has convicted
  perfect
• am convicting
  progressive
• are convicting
  progressive
• is convicting
  progressive
• have been convicting
  perfect progressive
• has been convicting
  perfect progressive

Past

• convicted
  simple
• had convicted
  perfect
• was convicting
  progressive
• were convicting
  progressive
• had been convicting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will convict
  simple
• will have convicted
  perfect
• will be convicting
  progressive
• will have been convicting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of convict

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb convicten, from Latin convictus, past participle of convincere, equivalent to con- “with, together” + vic-, variant stem of vincere “to overcome” + -tus past participle suffix; Middle English noun convict “(a) convict,” adjective convict “convicted,” past participle of convicten “to convince” (or directly from Latin ); see con-, convince

Explanation

A convict is a person who has been found guilty — convicted — of a crime and is serving a sentence in prison. When you convict (accent on the second syllable) someone of a crime, you find them guilty. The person is then a convict (accent on the first syllable). When the person is released from jail, he's an ex-con, that is, he's not a convict any more.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

convict convicts convicted convicting

In Spencer’s case, Burton processed the biological evidence used to convict him and testified as a forensic analyst during his trials.

From Slate ● Aug. 13, 2026

“It’s hard for a jury to convict when they feel no empathy for the victim. They dirtied up the victim and made her repugnant to the jury.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

Even if the formula were adjusted, however, Cleve Arguelles of pollster WR Numero told AFP he does not believe the numbers are there to convict.

From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026

He added: "Only where you are satisfied beyond reasonable doubt can you convict … that is the law."

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026

Despite the coppers’ best efforts, convict Gia Trivelino remains on the loose.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

He had been placed in Atascadero State Hospital, a maximum-security prison for mentally ill convicts located between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 2, 2026

Even charges like the ones Rojas faces can be devastating, whether or not a jury ever convicts.

From Slate ● Feb. 21, 2026

"This court finds the accused guilty of all 21 charges and convicts the accused accordingly," Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah said.

From Barron's ● Dec. 26, 2025

Jews have been in Australia for centuries and some even arrived as convicts with other Europeans in 1788.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 16, 2025

Both the Negro and the white convicts had sat bolt upright.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

Brown was convicted of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026

Records also show that other people were convicted in relation to the case.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

Yates was initially convicted and sentenced to life in prison, but she was found not guilty by reason of insanity at a 2006 retrial and committed to a psychiatric hospital.

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

Jacobs would be subject to a fine of not more than $10,000 and not more than nine months in jail if he is convicted.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

The Court granted review in Joe's case and in another Florida case that involved a sixteen-year-old teen convicted of a non-homicide and sentenced to life with no parole.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Hoppock worries that by moving straight to deportation proceedings, the federal government has found a way to skip prosecuting and convicting.

From Salon ● May 14, 2026

It’s true that we don’t want juries convicting simply because they don’t like the defendant.

From Slate ● Apr. 22, 2026

The letter argued that the legal standard for convicting someone of a crime shouldn’t be used when deciding whether Khan should continue to serve as chief prosecutor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 1, 2026

Martin Hewitt, tasked with curbing Channel crossings, said more than 4,000 disruptions against smuggling gangs had taken place since his unit was set up, including seizing cash and convicting key players.

From BBC ● Jan. 4, 2026

This was the first evidence we presented that suggested that people in law enforcement had been so focused on convicting Walter that they were prepared to ignore or even hide evidence that contradicted their case.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Related Words

• captive
• felon
• prisoner